MDT to study historic Bigfork bridge

The Montana Department of Transportation is hiring a consultant to do a study on Bigfork’s historic steel bridge.

Kent Barnes, bridge engineer for the department, said the 113-year-old bridge merited some attention.

“This bridge came up fairly high in the rankings,” Barnes said. “We look at it as a fairly important loop direction through there.”

The bridge, which was recently placed on the National Historic Register, was built in 1912, and has a low weight limit placed on it now. Barnes said the bridge isn’t it in great condition. The goal of the study will be to involve local community members and determine what course of action, if any, should be taken with the structure. Barnes said at this point, any option is on the table, and decisions will be made based on what the community needs and wants. 

“There are a lot of issues that need to be looked at,” Barnes said. “We need to study it, involve local people and figure out what, if anything, is even workable.” 

Potential projects could include reinforcing the bridge, replacing the bridge or closing it just to foot traffic. “It may lead to a project, it may not,” Barnes said. “Any project that is done needs to fit with the community.”

Barnes said they hope to start the study in January and complete it in 2016.

Flathead County is doing some minor repairs to the bridge, replacing deck boards, while Bridge Street is torn up for the completion of the Bigfork stormwater project.

Flathead County Public Works Director David Prunty said the work should be done by the end of the week.